Shrinking Detroit has 12,000 abandoned homes

AFP ^ | 08/14/05 | AFP

[Tokra]

The west coast cities, LA, Seattle and SF are paradise compared to Detroit, Chicago, DC. I've recently been to all of them, and there is just no comparison. The west coast cities are like shinning cities on the hill compared to the likes of Detroit.

Don't forget - "Detroit" means 2 things: the city of Detroit which is down to about 900,000 people, and Metropolitan Detroit, which has about 6 million people.

Most people in Detroit don't live in Detroit.

[Tokra]

I realize that this is an old blog. Most of the conversation seems to be about the inner city. What about downtown Detroit. What do you think caused its demise, my theory has been that the "White flight" and J.L Hudson's what do you all think.

Downtown Detroit has made an amazing turn around - Lofts are opening up in old commercial buildings and there is construction and a population boom going on in downtown. The casinos are expanding, the old Book Cadillac is being refurbished into condos and the new Riverwalk is attracting hundreds of thousands.

The rest of the city is another story.

[VOA]

Must be “Resurrect Old Thread” day.

Yep.

But it doesn't hurt to remind folks of the joys of Democratic-
controlled urban areas.
And the bitter fruits of ceding personal responsibility to
corrupt politicians.

Especially on the eve of July 4th.

When I hear of Detroit, I remember what one sane African-American
journalist said:
"Early in my career, I did my tour of duty in Detroit."

[dfwgator]

Detroit - Where the Weak are Killed and Eaten.

But still, Go Tigers!

[Navy Patriot]

it would be pretty cool to pony-up the money and subsequently hit a homerun.

Possible, but first it would be necessary to permanently get rid of the Detroit municipality and form a local government that won't kill the golden gosling like Detroit killed the golden goose. Detroit would simply wait for you to pony up, and then tax and regulate you to death like they did to the previous victims owners.

[tcrlaf]

“I actually saw a home in Detroit for sale for a hundred bucks.”

And how many times was that home traded on “Minority” loans before it collapsed?

[RockinRight]

Here ya go - great investment opportunity:
http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=2959&ml=3&mxp=5&typ=1&sid=c17881c7d11d4f98988541e8b1fe5f29&lid=1083765232&lsn=4&srcnt=301#Detail

[goldstategop]

Liberal racists like to blame white flight for Detroit's decline. The truth is Detroit is mismanaged and stifled by bureaucracy, high taxes, and crime. Certainly not an invitation for would be new residents and people in the city want to get out if they can. And the city is still shedding people every year.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[martin gibson]

Liberals have the "dodo touch". Everything the touch turns to poop. Detroit, Chicago, DC, LA, SF, Seattle...

...Cleveland...

[RockinRight]

It’s unorthodox, immoral, and probably unconstitutional...but ya know what would turn Detroit around?

Enact a shoot-to-kill policy on ALL crimes. For one year, but don’t tell them that.

[goldstategop]

Detroit could revive to a smaller and more vibrant city with the right policies and by cleaning up crime. Since the city's leaders remain trapped in the past, the decline will continue.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[junta]

On one hand its whites as absolute devils and the hate crimes fiasco not reaching its logical conclusion of open season on white people fast enough, and on the other hand white people not wanting to be around us pleasant peaceful people. Grow up people

[RockinRight]

1. Giuliani-style crime control in city, but with one major change: allow business owners to carry guns at all times and remove all restrictions on gun ownership for non-criminals. Pass legislation stating that ANY gun death resulting from said “victim” trying to steal from or kill another person is NOT a crime.

2. Expel all citizens who have recieved welfare for more than 24 of the last 36 months.

3. Abandoned buildings must be torn down or fully remodeled within 18 months.

4. Reduce city income tax by 40%. Create business-friendly tax structure.

5. Call a spade a spade.

[avacado]

"Detroit was recently named the most liberal city in the country based on voting patterns. I guess voting Democrat has really paid off."

Worked like a charm for New Orleans -- Liberal Plantation Capitol of the USA -- the City of Envy. /sarc

[dfwgator]

6.

[Freedom4US]

What is bizarre, is it used to be one of the finer cities in the country, apparently. The houses are beautiful. My own hometown suffered a similar if much smaller condition. What started it were the riots in the 1960s, believe it or not, and we have never completely recovered. The downtown is virtually a ghost town, and huge pre-depression era houses sit empty, crumbling and decaying. It’s like visiting another abandoned planet, and you’re struck wondering “who were these people to make such wonderful edifice, and who were we to let it all slip away.”

[tcrlaf]

“Here ya go - great investment”

What the Democratic Party did for Detroit, it can do for YOU!!

[N3WBI3]

the farm idea is pretty dumb Im sure much of the land in Detroit has stuff in it I dont want to end up in food but there are some other good ideas floating around..

1) Give the land an abandoned house is on to the homeowner next door if they are willing to tear down the other house. This will reduce the number of blighted homes and increase the value of the homes which are remaining.

2) Make Detroit a city of parks, if 1/4th of your land is unoccupied see if you cant get some key owners to shuffle around and build open space, low maintenance parks.

3) just give away the land, and petition the state for grants and low interest loans for people willing to dvelop it..

None of this will work if your city is not being governed well and they need a mayor like Rudy to come along and make sure no more windows get broken..

[CharacterCounts]

It's not "white flight" - for the past 10 years it has been black flight to the suburbs which are becoming increasingly integrated.

Minorities with the cash to get out, have.

The main reasons for the flight are poor schools and very high property taxes. Just like any other business, minorities want the best government services for their (tax) dollar.

[RockinRight]

Re #1 - are most abandoned homes still owned by someone, or have they been seized by the city? If they’re bankowned ain’t a-gonna be much happening there.

However, I saw a slew of bank-owned homes for under $10k in Detroit. Perhaps offering the homeowner next door that if they buy the bank-owned sh*thole next to them they’ll get a break on their taxes a couple years.